Freedom
Posted on February 19th, 2015 by T'Lira

The USS Freedom was a Miranda-class vessel that had so many modifications that the poor engineers at Utopia Planitia and Spacedock One had no idea what to do. Today, however, it was waiting in orbit of Earth to pick up sixteen cadets for a training cruise that would also double as a patrol of the ever-changing “border” with currently-occupied Dominion space.

Captain Grek leaned back in his chair on the bridge and snorted derisively at Admiral Michael Quay as the aging human explained why exactly the cadets were coming onboard.

“So, you’re trying to tell me that these cadets need seasoning and you want them to get that on an active vessel that sees Jem’Hadar and Cardassian ship every other patrol mission? And ends up in plenty of battles?”

“Basically, yes. Look, Captain, I know that your next patrol route takes you dangerously close to an active zone, but these kids need to go on a training cruise and tactical projections have the Dominion and their allies so tied up closer to the Bajoran sector that they won’t even have time to glance at you. Just keep your head down and it’ll be fine!” Quay tried to placate the Tellarite, but Grek was having none of it.

They argued back and forth for another fifteen minutes before Quay finally relented.

“Okay, fine! You know what, I’ll alter your patrol route. You’ll be about seventeen light-years closer to home in case anything happens, got it? That’s all I can do, your sensors are needed over there.”

Grek smirked, “I think I can manage. Freedom out.”

So, at exactly 1600 hours San Francisco time, sixteen cadets beamed aboard. In Grek’s opinion, all were too damned cheery and fresh-faced. Except for the Vulcans. They were properly somber.

“Welcome aboard, all of you. Don’t screw this up or I’ll never get a good assignment like this again. You have no idea what I had to go through to even make this cruise safe for you kids,” he huffed, in typical Tellarite manner.

A human cadet, a young male, snorted, “Oh, I’m sure. Probably just bribed the Admiralty.”

Another human, this one a female, hit the first cadet on the arm and hissed, “Will you shut the hell up? He’s your CO, so just deal, you moron.”

Grek assigned Lieutenant Commander Eduardo Alvarez to give the cadets the grand tour and get them assigned to quarters, and then went to his Ready Room to brace for the long trip full of questions and idiot kids.

[=]

T’Lira looked around the quarters and set her bag on the bed. Her three roommates were all chattering away about the cruise. Elena was asking Bril Lyrsin about something and Talan Juri was fiddling with her traditional Bajoran earring as she gushed about how “cool” this all was. She knew that tomorrow, she would start interning in the science department, most likely with minor errands and tasks, but it was a start. Elena would be working with the security department, Bril would work with the engineers, and Juri would be in Sickbay. Tonight, however, it seemed that they were going to be simply enjoying their first “assignment” in Starfleet.

T’Lira never did understand the logic behind pretending this was an assignment when it was simply training. It seemed unwise to believe this was an assignment. Such mentality, especially during wartime, could be dangerous.

As it turned out, that mentality would save the Freedom and her crew from what would have been a rather unfortunate fate at the hands of the Jem’Hadar.

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five